Holden woman charged with embezzling nearly $1 million

WORCESTER — A Holden woman is to enter a plea in federal court to an accusation that she stole almost $1 million of her in-laws' money, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court.

Chiao Fang Ku, 46, of Holden, is facing a charge of wire fraud in federal court. The government filed the charge in June, records show.

Ms. Ku allegedly offered to help pay her father-in-law's and mother-in-law's bills beginning in May 2008, when her father-in-law became ill. The father-in-law is now dead, according to federal records. Paperwork filed in court list the in-law's initials only.

Ms. Ku's father-in-law accepted her help in paying bills and authorized access to bank accounts. The in-laws had investment and bank accounts that "contained significant amounts of funds," the government said in records.

The in-laws moved from New Jersey to Holden to be closer to their family, including their grandchildren, in October 2008. They sold their home in New Jersey and placed the sale money in a bank account.

Authorities accuse Ms. Ku of stealing money from May 2008 to July 2013. She is accused of using the money to pay for credit cards, online gambling and other personal expenses. In total she is accused of stealing more than $950,000, federal records show.

A waiver of indictment and plea to the charge is scheduled for Friday.